By the spring of 1813 Prince Andrew could step weakly outside the monastery into the bright, clear air. Oh, to be outside! He had healed well enough that he and Natasha could travel back to Moscow to be married and to live. As their open calèche moved west down the Yaroslavl road to Moscow, Prince Andrei, who could not sit fully straight for long, looked up at the old linden trees, tall ones, closing the sky above him. He thought he could see tiny bees grabbing and pushing at the fragile, white flowers, never satisfied for a moment and taking no notice of him. The scent of the soft air filled his heart with new possibilities.

Although Napoleon had been gone from Moscow now for months, the city was still rebuilding from the war and the fire. It would take time to recover its music and its theater, but Prince Andrei did not have time. He was filled with impatience and purpose that drew him to think of Paris, where there might be a singing teacher for Natasha. And although he was still weak, he organized his affairs to travel with Natasha to Paris in 1814. Tsar Alexander and the Russian army were there too, celebrating the Russian victory over Napoleon, who was now banished to Elba. The king of France returned to rule.